Real Life Solutions

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2006-07-09T22:55:00.000-05:00

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Healthy Living & Eating Tips

2006-07-09T10:56:00.000-05:00

I wanted to let you know about the awesome information that has recently been added to the 'Tips For A Healthier Life' section of Real Life Solutions. Many of you have written to me asking for information on How to look younger, Weight Loss and even suggestions on how to get rid of a nasty common cold. Visit Healthy Living - Your resource for information, products and articles as it pertains to healthy living. If you want to serve healthy, home-cooked meals, but are too busy to spend very much time in the kitchen -- Check out the Healthy Express Cookbook: 101 Fresh, Light & Quick Dinners. Aurelia

Stress Relief Tips

2006-07-05T19:57:00.000-05:00

When you feel the need to escape and take a few minutes to yourself to de-stress, follow some (if not all) of the tips below. Put yourself in time out: Allow some alone time for yourself. Use this time to focus on you. Find a place in your home that you can go to and find privacy. You can ask your partner or a friend to take the family out for a few hours while you enjoy your alone time. Do nothing, sleep, read, watch a movie, and just enjoy your solitude. Call a Friend: Rather than yelling at your husband or your children, try picking up the phone and vent to a friend. Be sure not to vent AT her, but rather tell her about your day and get it all out. If she offers you some advice, listen and soak it in. This mini-time out session will leave you feeling heard, de-stressed and you will find that by the end of your call some of you anger will have dissipated. Play: As adults, we sometimes forget the beneficial value of play. Play stimulates our imagination, encourages our creativity, boosts our energy, and best of all, it is fun. Try a game of tennis, a game of cards online or perhaps invite some friends over for an evening of adult board games. Meditate: Meditation has been proven to reduce your blood pressure, and helps to dramatically reduce your stress level. Meditation and/or prayer will help you to keep in touch with your spiritual side. Meditation is a very effective method of relaxation. To meditate, quiet your mind and allow yourself to focus on one thing, such as your breath. Find a relaxed comfortable position where Try visualizing good health and peace as you inhale. While you are breathing out breathe out all of your stress. Set aside approximately 20 minutes for this exercise. Upon completion, you will see just how much more relaxed your mind and body is. Take a nap: Find a quiet, comfortable spot and take a nap. Even a short power nap can leave you feeling refreshed, renewed, and more focused. Studies have shown that people who spent 30 minutes each day napping had one third less heart disease than those who didn't nap. Eat: Not just anything but certain things. Studies show that certain foods can help reduce stress. Carbohydrates will actually soothe you. Good sources of carbohydrates include rice, pasta, potatoes, breads, air-popped popcorn and low-calorie cookies. Experts suggest that the carbohydrates present in just one baked potato or a cup of spaghetti or white rice, is enough to relieve the anxiety of a stressful day. Movie Time: If you don’t have anyone to watch the children for you while you de-stress. Put in one of their favorite movies, supply your children with a few healthy snacks, and have them occupy themselves for a little while so that you can take a breather. Don't feel guilty for taking time out to rejuvenate your mind and body. Being a mom is not an easy task and it is a full time job. Take a break when you need it and be sure to ask for help to keep the stress at bay. Be sure to take a look at the following Resource: Why Make Yourself Crazy: 300 Breakthrough Stress Relief Tips. Aurelia

Business Coachng for WAHM's Free Tiral!

2006-07-04T09:39:00.000-05:00

Mom Masterminds™ is a hands-on mentoring community for mothers who are ready to work past the fluff and re-focus on making real money from their online businesses. They offer a free 9-day course that gets right to the nitty-gritty of creating a thriving online business. When you sign up for our 9-day course, you'll also receive an exclusive invitation to a free 7-day trial at Mom Masterminds. I have been a MM Member for 9 months now and my business has grown by leaps and bounds! I hope to see you all there. Aurelia Real Life Solutions

Reduce your Stress - Your Kids Are Waiting

2006-07-01T15:28:00.000-05:00

Summer Reading For your Animal Loving Child

2006-06-27T17:28:00.000-05:00

If your child in an animal lover then why not turn that love of animals into a love of reading! My 6 year old Isaac is a animal lover. From snakes to bears he just cant seem to get enough. I subscribed him to Zoobooks about 3 months ago and he loves it. When it arrives in the mailbox he gets so excited and immediately flips it open. The great thing about this is that he is expanding his reading and learning about animals. If you have an animal lover in your home, I am sure Zoobooks will be a hit. For all of you out there that are already subscribers, I'd love to hear your input. Happy Reading, Aurelia

Arts And Crafts for Kids (Easy & Fun)

2006-06-24T22:12:00.000-05:00

Hi Moms. I searched around for some great arts and crafts books and projects to keep my little one busy and I wanted to share my great finds with you. I don't know who had more fun... me or my son Isaac (smile) Hands On Crafts For Kids - An amazing collection Crafts for kids. Over 100 Pages. Makeit & Bakeit Glittering Frames - Fun to Make! Stained Glass Suncatchers add sparkle to window decorations. Great for room decorating or to give as gifts. The Busy Moms Book Of Quick Crafts For Kids - Quick and easy crafts, including shaving cream sculptures, ghost-it-notes, and tin-punch laterns. Over 140 pages. Aurelia Free Craft Projects for Kids

Childhood Depression Symptoms

2006-06-22T12:05:00.000-05:00

In order to recognize when a child is depressed, it is important to become aware of the symptoms and the signs to look for. Because children are not as articulate as adults in expressing their emotions, it is unlikely that they will come to us and say "I'm depressed" as an adult might do. In fact, they may not even realize themselves that something is out of the ordinary. Children live in a world controlled by adults and can easily feel powerless over what is happening to them. This puts the responsibility upon us as adults to look for signs of trouble and help children cope. The warning signs of depression fall basically into four different categories: emotional signs, cognitive signs (those involving thinking), physical complaints, and behavioral changes. Not every child who is depressed experiences every symptom. Emotional Signs Typical moods or emotions experienced by children suffering from depression include: Sadness - The child may feel despondent and hopeless. They may cry easily. Some children will hide their tears by becoming withdrawn. Loss of pleasure or interest - A child who has always enjoyed playing sports, for example, may suddenly decide to not try out for the team this year. They may complain of feeling "bored" or reject an offer to participate in an activity, which they've always enjoyed in the past. Anxiety - The child may become anxious, tense, and panicky. The source of their anxiety may well give you a clue to what's causing their depression. Turmoil - The child may feel worried and irritable. They may brood or lash out in anger as a result of the distress they are feeling. Cognitive Signs A depressive mood can bring on negative, self-defeating thoughts. These skewed thought processes may help perpetuate the problem because they make the child resistant to words of encouragement or advice. Once the depression lifts, the child will be much more receptive to help. The signs to look for are: Difficulty organizing thoughts - People with depression often have problems concentrating or remembering. In children, this may be evidenced by problems in school or an inability to complete tasks. Negative view - People with depression may become pessimistic, perceiving themselves, their life, and their world in a very negative light. Worthlessness and guilt - Depressed children may obsess over their perceived faults and failures, feel tremendous guilt, and declare themselves worthless. Helplessness and hopelessness - Depressed children often believe that there is nothing they can do to relieve their feelings of depression. In particular, a child with dysthymia may perceive that this is "just the way it is" because this is their only experience. Feelings of isolation - A child who has been picked on frequently may become very sensitive to slights from his peers. Suicidal Thoughts - Thoughts of death are not limited to adults. Children may also wish that they were dead and express these thoughts. Physical Signs Depression is not just an illness of the mind. It causes changes in us physically as well. Changes in appetite or weight - Many people with depression find that their appetite either decreases or increases. Children who usually have a healthy appetite may suddenly lose interest in eating. Children may also respond in the opposite way, but eating too much to self-medicate their feelings. Sleep disturbances - Children with depression may have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep once they do. They may wake too early or oversleep. They may have trouble staying awake during the day at school. Sluggishness -Children with depression often talk, react, and walk slower. They may be less active and playful than usual. Agitation - Depressed children may show signs of agitation by fidgeting or not being able to sit still. Behavioral Signs These signs will be the most obvious and easy for your detect. Avoidance and withdrawal - Children with depression may avoid everyday or enjoyable activities and responsibilities. They may withdraw from friends and family. The bedroom can become a favorite place to escape and find solitude. Clinging and demanding - The depressed child may become more dependent on some relationships and behave with an exaggerated sense of insecurity. Activities in excess - A depressed child may appear to be out of control in regard to certain activities. He or she may spend long hours playing a video game or overeat. Restlessness - The restlessness brought on by depression may lead to such behaviors as fidgeting, acting up in class, or reckless behavior Self-Harm - Depressed individuals may cause themselves physical pain or take excessive risks. Self-injury is one example of such behavior

Ways To Reduce Stress & Help Your Children

2006-06-21T18:28:00.000-05:00

Mothers are expected to possess huge hearts, big shoulders, a minimum of 3 hands, all the answers and the list goes on! What many mothers forget is they are not born with super hero powers to handle all of those things at once. Mom=Stress. It’s a fact of life. Reducing stress is of the utmost importance to everyone, but especially mothers. You know stress can lead to depression, heart disease, and an unhealthy mom. Did you also know your stress, if not handled correctly, can have a negative impact on your children too? The most important things in a mother’s life, her children, are also the most influential. Children are sponges and everything Mom does they will, at some point in time in their lives, mimic. If children see their mother constantly stressed out, they will be more inclined to follow those patterns. What you do today can determine the kind of life your child will lead tomorrow, including how you make it a point to reduce stressful situations. Mothers tend to overload themselves, which in turn overloads their children. Adults move at a much faster pace and their bodies are more adept to handle the speed of life. Children, on the other hand, are not able to function this way, which can lead to developmental and behavior problems in the long run if constantly pushed to keep up with an adult’s quicker pace. Studies have shown a mother who is under excessive amounts of stress will hand out harsher punishments than one who is not. Prolonged stress can cause a mother to get to the point that she feels overwhelmed and will not stop to think before handing down discipline. This type of behavior teaches children it is ok to let your mood control your life as a parent Children need to feel a sense of security and know that their mom is there to help them work through and understand the stressful times in their lives. If children are not taught what stress is and why it is a part of their lives, they will never learn how to reduce it, therefore leading them down a path of unhappiness and unhealthy choices. Give them the tools early about how to deal with stress and more importantly, how to reduce the amount of stress that occurs in their lives. There is no one who lives an entirely stress free life. In fact, you shouldn’t want your children to have a life with absolutely no stress. The day will come that a stressful situation occurs and they will have no idea how to cope with it, which is cause for an extremely negative outcome. As a mother you must show your children that stress does not have to control your life. Mother’s have a tendency to try and do it all; even when they know they are not capable. STOP! Make a point, each day, to reduce your stress levels. Eliminating just one stressful situation can make a world of difference in the way you feel and how your children handle stress as adults. ------ Aurelia Williams, Personal Life Coach and owner of Real Life Coaching. Are you looking to reduce your stress? Join our Stress Less program. Free Consultation included.

WAHM Resources - Free Trial

2006-06-18T12:24:00.000-05:00

Mom Masterminds™ is a hands-on mentoring community for mothers who are ready to work past the fluff and re-focus on making real money from their online businesses. They offer a free 9-day course that gets right to the nitty-gritty of creating a thriving online business. When you sign up for our 9-day course, you'll also receive an exclusive invitation to a free 7-day trial at Mom Masterminds. I have been a MM Member for 8 months now and my business has grown by leaps and bounds! I hope to see you all there. Aurelia Real Life Solutions

How To Save Money On Gas

2006-06-15T11:21:00.000-05:00

Hi there - I hope this message finds you well. I was shocked when I pulled into the gas station this morning to fill up my vehicle to find that it took a total of $54.32 to fill up my tank. I had to look that the pump 3 times to be sure that my eye's weren't playing tricks on me. With the cost of gasoline rising and with the summer months here and expected family travels just around the corner, I wanted to share with you these ten tips to Save On Gasoline. For additional personal finance and budgeting tips, visit Here soon. Aurelia Real Life Solutions

Setting Goals And Reaching Them...

2006-06-13T16:04:00.000-05:00

One of the hottest topics lately seems to be Goal setting & Goal Getting. Setting good, clear goals is a powerful process for both your personal and professional well-being. By setting goals on a routine basis YOU decide what you want to achieve and then move step-by-step towards achieving these goals. I always encourage women to make an effort to spend time setting sharp and clearly defined goals. One of the beautifully empowering things about goal setting is that you can measure and take pride in the achievement you make as you get closer to your goals. By setting goals, you will also raise your self confidence as you recognize your ability and competence in achieving the goals that you have set. The process of setting goals allows you to choose where you want to go in life. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you know what you have to concentrate on to do it. Remember, your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life. =============================== Action Steps =============================== Here are a few action steps for you to take into consideration when working on setting and pursuing your goals:

Make sure you set goals that you can realistically reach. Striving to be perfect is not a realistic goal. Striving to eat healthier, exercise more..etc. is a realistic goal.

Break your big goals up into bite-sized chunks. If your ultimate goal is to launch a new website before September, break the goal down. Work 1st on asking for others to give you the opinions on possible webmasters, make a list of what you want your site to look like, contact certain webmasters, ask for price quotes etc. The key is to take small, thought-through steps to reach that ultimate goal.

Set a specific time-frame to achieve your goals.

Write your goals down and force yourself to be very specific about them. You can then refer back to your goals list and you can see how you are measuring up. It is an empowering feeling to set goals and achieve them.

Celebrate! When you achieve a goal or overcome a hurdle that brings you closer to that goal, CELEBRATE you and your accomplishment! Aurelia Real Life Coaching

Chores For Children

2006-06-10T20:59:00.000-05:00

Chores for children I know that many mom's dread trying to get their children involved in doing some household chores and it can be a never ending battle. Well, I am here with a few tips and insight on this matter that hopefully will make the weekend chores go a bit more smoothly. Many of us have chores that must be done on the weekend and with a little incentive and the right attitude, you can get your child happily involved in them (Ok, well maybe not happily, but involved). Even young toddlers can play a significant role in participating in household chores. Your children can help separate the laundry, sweep the kitchen, dust off furniture and even help prepare meals. Explain to your children that chore time can be family time. You can turn on the music in your home, assign the household members a task and get busy. For children, they feel a sense of ownership and accomplishment and for the parents we now don't have to do it all on our own and we can relish in the fact that our children are being responsible. Be sure to limit the number of chores that you assign to your children and try to build in some fun into the process or offer small rewards for a job well done. Click here for more Parenting Tips Be sure to check out my friend, Nicole Dean's awesome article titled Chaos, Children and Chores. Warmly, Aurelia Real Life Coaching

Are You a Mother To Teenage Children...

2006-06-08T13:49:00.000-05:00

Hi there Moms of teenagers!! I had to let you know about a new blog dedicated to mothers of teens! It is a wonderful place where we can talk about our teenagers and perhaps help each other understand the many things they are going through. It is a great place to support and encourage each other. As you know, mothering teens is a difficult task - let us go through this journey hand in hand. Mother Of Teens

Quick and Easy Exercises for Moms

2006-06-06T20:45:00.000-05:00

Even if you only have five minutes to spare, make sure you squeeze some exercise into the day. Exercising not only tones your body and helps you look great, but it releases endorphins that make you feel great, too Here are some great resources for you: Get Fit While You Sit - 36 Exercises you can do almost anywhere, anytime! Healthy Living - Your resource for information, products and articles as it pertains to healthy living (mind, body & soul).

Young Animal Lovers Will Love This

2006-06-04T13:22:00.000-05:00

ZOOBOOKS MAGAZINE: is a great way to start kids off on a life-long passion for reading. Zoobooks uses creatures as teachers. Turn a youngster's love of animals into a love of reading! I started my 6yo son off with a subscription to Zoobooks 6 months ago and he loves to read the magazine and cut out the posters. The monthly subscription fee is low and the magazines are delivered quickly to your home. Real Life Solutions:

Free Support for Work At Home Moms!!

2006-06-03T13:23:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been a member of Mom Masterminds now for a ABOUT 7 Months and I've seen a steady increase in my website traffic and affiliate income. Mom Masterminds is a woderful support community that offers very valuable support, resources and tips to the members and now is the time to join! Here is your invitation for a free 7-day trial. Free? What can be better than that? So, what are you waiting for? I'll see you there!! Aurelia Real Life Solutions

Managing Time and Stress when Working at Home

2006-05-30T13:22:00.000-05:00

Managing Time and Stress Stress is anything that disturbs your healthy mental or physical well being. Isolation, overwork and poor time management all breed stress. Here are some guidelines to make it a little easier on yourself. Work, whether in a corporate setting or in your own home office, is stressful. Sad to say, there is no escaping stress. Doctors define stress as anything that disturbs your healthy mental or physical well being. Isolation, overwork and poor time management all breed stress. Having trouble getting motivated? Chances are you are stressed out. Or maybe you can’t handle setbacks? That’s stress! It could also be a looming deadline, a demanding client, delayed shipments and deliveries, or even the barrage of emails and phone calls that you receive. As an entrepreneur, the constant need to generate income and maintain the financial health of your business can create more stress than some people can take. Sustained long-term stress can make you feel anxious and frustrated, resulting in a downslide of your work quality. It can also give you a feeling of a sense of failure, and your health may begin to suffer. You either have to live with stress, or learn to deal with it. Here are some guidelines to make it a little easier on yourself: Effective time management. Plan your time and establish priorities on a daily "to do" list. By preparing a daily list of things to do you’re ready to act when the time comes, with no need for further thought or preparation. You’re ready for action. Decide what your "prime time" is and do your most important or difficult tasks. Get the tasks done the first time. Set "business hours," specific times when you are at work and times when you turn on the answering machine because you are "on duty but off call." You, your customers, and your family will appreciate knowing your set routine, even though you know that for special events or emergencies you can break that schedule. Focus on the urgency of the task. Make a habit of completing every task you start without having to go back to it. Efficiency, or doing things with as little waste motion as possible, is important to the success of every business venture. Eliminate distractions. Notice what your four or five big time-wasters are and learn techniques to eliminate them or compensate for them. Some common ones are: telephone interruptions, visitors, socializing, excessive paperwork, lack of policies and procedures, procrastination, failure to delegate, unclear objectives, poor scheduling, lack of self-discipline, and lack of skill in a needed area. Stay in contact with people. Home alone with the job you love – it’s the new American dream. Unfortunately, it’s the alone part many must learn to handle. Even though you prefer to work at home, you should plan work-related or social activities that provide frequent contact with others. This will help your morale if you feel isolated. Even for home-based business owners who like feeling isolated, keeping up with business and professional contacts is a must. Build a fitness program into your day. Many successful entrepreneurs exercise in order to think creatively. Exercise is a great way to relieve anxiety, stress, frustration, and daily pressure, as well as to recharge emotional batteries. Physical activity sends oxygen to the brain and helps the mind function better. Take time off to exercise or simply relax. Jog, do brisk walking, play with your dog, tinker in your garden, or join a structured program at the gym. Don’t consider the time wasted; it pays HUGE dividends. Give your home business as much of a separate and distinct physical identity as possible. While a home and office may exist under one roof, remember that an office is not a home, and vice versa. Although you might save a few dollars by using the ironing board as a bookshelf and a cardboard box as a file cabinet, the stress and strain of operating without proper space and supplies will take its toll. Have a separate room or area for your business, with a separate entrance if customers or suppliers visit. Deliberately and consciously entering an area explicitly designated for work separates “being at home” from “being at the office.” One space must not be allowed to invade the other. (In addition to the psychological and physical comfort of having a separate office, the IRS requires it in order for you to make a legitimate claim for tax deductions.) Take care of your major business asset: YOU. Being the boss can be exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding. It can also be lonely, stressful, and demanding. Learn to balance your professional and personal life. Make yourself a concerted effort to schedule periodic “rewards” into your daily and weekly routines for a job well done: lunches or dinners with friends, regular workouts at the health club, or a weekly massage. Your business depends on you to be at your best. About The Author: Isabel M Isidro is currently the Managing Editor of Power Homebiz Guides. For a step-by-step guide to starting a business, order the CD-Rom "Power Home Business Ideas" from PowerHomeBiz.com

5 Steps To Build Up Your Self Esteem

2006-05-29T12:58:00.000-05:00

Building up your self-confidence takes time and commitment but it is well worth it! You will soon find yourself embracing your new image and giving off a very positive energy that will surely come back to you. 1 - Start each morning and end each day with a positive statement or thought. Create your own mantra (i.e. "I am intelligent", "I will have a positive day", "I will succeed"). 2 - Get to know the TRUE you and accept yourself. The more you accept your true self the more others will do the same. 3 - Make a list of all your positive characteristics and achievements. Keep adding to this list as time goes on and be sure to keep your list in a place where you can access it and read it at will. 4 - Choose your words/thoughts carefully; Take time to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. If you are faced with a challenging task -- instead of saying, "I will never get this done on time" rephrase your word/thoughts into positives: "When I finish this task I will treat myself to something nice" or "This may be challenging but I can do this". 5 - Take what you are good at and enhance it. Let others know about it! Hold your head up high, be proud and know that you have a special gift inside of you. =============================== Free Related Resources ===============================

Building Self Confidence

Live Coaching Session on Self Esteem =============================== Journey to Joy! =============================== Journey To Joy: Simple Tips, Resources and Tools for Living a Happier Life. I personally wrote this wonderfully organized eBook that discusses many topics and obstacles that face women today. The information in the eBook contains actual steps that I have personally followed and they have proven to change my life in a positive way. Not only do I discuss the issues but I also provide you with essential action steps and worksheets that will help you on your Journey to Joy! I cover topics such as: ==> How to reduce stress ==> How to find time to dedicate to you ==> How to build up your self esteem ==> How to stop negative self-talk and use positive self-talk If you are ready to find your way to a more balanced you, I am sure that you will fully enjoy this book. One of my favorite quotes is from Oprah Winfrey and she says,"Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance." Isn't it time you started dancing? Journey To Joy Warmly, Aurelia Williams Real Life Coaching Start Your Jounrey to Joy!

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

2006-05-25T08:53:00.000-05:00

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. I know this is easier said than done, but learning to let things go once in awhile is key to finding some more time for yourself to just relax or do something that you truly enjoy. So what if the house goes 1-2 days without getting vacuumed or the laundry is put on hold for an extra day. It is important to elieviate some stress that we put on ourselves to get ALL of those little things done at once. Be sure to check out our resource for self motivation tips, motivation articles, information and products to help you reach your goals: GET MOTIVATED. If you are looking for a breakthrough program that relieves the symptoms of stress and eliminates the causes you will truly be impressed with this program: STRESS LESS. Warmly, Aurelia Williams Here.

MommyFest Is Coming!

2006-05-22T11:06:00.000-05:00

MommyFest, is coming! The 3rd Annual MommyFest is on May 23-25, 2006 Mark your calendars - it is going to be an info and FUN packed event. There are lots of informative workshops both via audio and online chat.Some Topics covered are: - Blogging Basics - Adsense - How to Drive Traffic to your Website - Teaching your Baby Sign Language - Establishing a Web Presence - Resilience Training for Moms - Effective Communication for Moms - How to Host an Online Event and so much more ... To see audio Workshop schedule, visit Here, To see our Interactive Online Chat schedule, visit Here. Make sure to MARK your calendars! There will also be Games, Contests, Freebies and networking opportunities. Take a virtual tour of MommyFest when you visit the site so you know what to expect - Mommy Fest.

Cheap Summer Fun For Kids

2006-05-21T18:41:00.000-05:00

Cheap Summer Fun for Kids Entertaining your children when school is out for the summer can become quite expensive, especially if you enroll them in pricey summer camps for a large portion of the time. However, many parents feel that the alternative is to have their children sulking on the couch while moaning about how bored they are, especially if friends are all attending camps. Actually, there are plenty of ways to have cheap summer fun with your kids. Why not try a few of these budget friendly ideas? Your local YMCA is a family oriented place with plenty of great activities. Your children can go swimming, take a variety of classes and even attend day camps for a very reasonable price. Most YMCA’s have family memberships, which makes the classes more affordable for families with several children. If you don’t have a YMCA close by, check with your local parks and recreation department to see if they are offering events for children and families during the summer months. Many times, they offer low cost art, sports and even cooking classes for kids. Another great way for your kids to have fun this summer is to set up events in your own backyard. Have them put together a circus. After they’ve practiced the event and have the ring set up, friends and family can make up an audience to view the final result. Don’t forget to add some games and serve some refreshments that match the theme, such as popcorn and corndogs. If your children don’t like the circus, suggest that they put on a play, hold a pet show or set up a fair. If your children like collecting things, they can make a natural history museum in a spare corner of the house. Then, you can take field trips to local places so that they can create their museum exhibits. Take them on nature hikes so that they can make rubbings of tree bark and leaves. Let them take photos of local wildlife and flowers, but be sure that you don‘t actually take home any wildflowers, since these plants may be endangered. Go to the beach and collect interesting shells and bits of sea glass or visit the areas where your local rock hounds hang out. If you have prolific gardens or you can get permission for them to pick some flowers in someone else’s garden, your children can also press flowers and mount them as part of the display. If your children are budding entrepreneurs, they may have more fun making money. Why not try a good old-fashioned lemonade stand? Just be sure your town or city doesn’t have any ordinances that would prohibit it before the kids set up. If they need to clean out their closets and toy chests, suggest that they combine the lemonade stand with a yard sale. Finally, don’t forget about gardening. Growing their own produce can be fun for kids, especially when they discover a two foot long zucchini hiding in the garden bed. ----- Aurelia Williams is the owner of Real Life Solutions, your resource for free positive parenting tips and information.

Moms? Are You Ready to Party Hearty?

2006-05-19T09:44:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year! The weather is warming up, children are graduating and families are firing up the Grills. Putting together a nice party is a great way to celebrate special events in our lives. If you haven't visited Real Life Solutions lately, then you may have missed all of the new and informative resources that is located at the If so visit 'Party Planning' section: We have tips from how to plan a party on a tight budget to how to throw the best Toddler Birthday Bash! Be sure to visit us soon and I love hearing from you so please keep your comments coming. Warmly - Aurelia

Reduce Your Stress Now

2006-05-15T18:34:00.000-05:00

Are you stressed out? Could you use a break? If I gave you a nickel for every time you heard the word Moooommmmmyyyy - would you be rich? Well, we have all been there! With babies, toddlers and older children to care for along with cooking meals, paying bills, cleaning and playing taxi, finding time for yourself may seem impossible and when you do find a few quiet minutes, many of us are at a loss for what to do. Taking time out to recharge your batteries is just what you need. So, what's stopping you? Leave your chores behind, just for a little while, and give yourself permission to take a much needed time-out. Are you in need of some stress relief tips? If so visit Here. Aurelia Stress Less.

Free Resourses for Everyone!

2006-05-10T09:40:00.000-05:00

Last month, I passed along some great free resources for you and the response was wonderful so here I am again with more free resources that I hope you will enjoy. You can use these free resources for your business and personal life. ================ Mommy Fest 2006: Interactive Online Convention for Moms held on May 23-25, 2006. Join us for Celebrating Motherhood 365 days a year! You can register now and it is totally free. ============== Smead Organizing University: Smead courses are informative, free, and practical. They fit easily into any schedule. Smead Organizing U courses are online 24/7. ============= Mom Masterminds: Mom Masterminds is a hands-on mentoring community for mothers who are ready to work past the fluff and re-focus on making real money from their online businesses. They offer a free 9-day course that gets right to the nitty-gritty of creating a thriving online business. When you sign up for our 9-day course, you'll also receive an exclusive invitation to a free 7-day trial at Mom Masterminds. ========================== Free Goals Report: Clarify your top 3 goals and then get your personalized, customized, Free Goals Report! This is a wonderful way to start off on the path to reaching your goals. ======================== Tips For A Healthy Life: Your resource for information, products and articles as it pertains to living a healthier life. ======================= Enjoy the free resources and events. I love hearing from you so be sure to send along your comments! Aurelia Real Life Solutions